Casino card game

ABSTRACT

A card game for use with a gaming table which includes at least one normal card deck where, a player is initially dealt with two cards face up and the dealer has one card face up, the player then having an option to obtain a third card after which the dealer draws a second card and, under defined circumstances, a third card, the winning result being determined on the basis of a point total of the player&#39;s hand relative to the dealer&#39;s hand.

TECHNICAL AREA

The invention relates to the area of casino card games and in particular to a casino card game which is a form of baccarat that is adapted to be played on a gambling table.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Baccarat and Blackjack are two well known card games which have been played for many years. In addition, the concept of being able to play blackjack in a table version in a gambling venue, is one which has been around for some time and is well known to those who attend a casino and/or gambling venue.

One of the major problems in present day casinos is to persuade players to play on a game table as opposed to the machines. It is believed that the major difficulty in this is that many players are intimidated by table games which seem to them, from examination, to be complex and difficult even if their degree of complexity may not, in fact, be high.

OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a casino card game which combines the well known card game baccarat with the elements of a gambling table.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a simple casino card game which will enable any player to develop confidence by reducing the degree of intimidation normally experienced.

The invention provides for use with a casino gambling table, a card game which includes at least one normal card deck where, a player is initially dealt with two cards face up and the dealer has one card face up, the player then having an option to obtain a third card after which the dealer draws a second card and, under defined circumstances, a third card, the winning result being determined on the basis of a point total of the player's hand relative to the dealer's hand.

It is preferred that each card within the deck is given the numeric value of one to nine for cards ace to nine, with all of the tens and Court cards being designated with a numeric value of zero.

It is preferred that the point total is calculated by addition of each card held in a player's hand to obtain a final number, and should be taken as the units part of the sum of the values of the cards if the value is over ten

It is preferred that the dealer will only draw a further card if the previous two card give a point total between zero and five.

It is further preferred that a player will not be able to draw a further card if their two-card point total is eight or nine.

In order that the invention be more readily understood we will describe by way of non limiting example a specific embodiment thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE

FIG. 1 shows the numeric values given to each card in a normal card deck according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a “Natural Eight” and “Natural Nine” according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view a table according to an embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In this embodiment of the invention, the casino card game is played on a table (1) having properties similar to that of a Blackjack type table. The table (1) may be made of timber or metal or any other suitable material so long as the strength requirements of the table are met. The top of the table (1) may also be provided with a layer of felt (2) or other suitable synthetic material, as is usually provided on most gaming tables.

The table (1) has a straight side (3) at which the dealer stands or sits, and a curved side (4) about which the players stand or sit. Provided mid-way along the straight side (3) of the table (1) is a coin tray (5) in which the dealer can keep the different monetary dominations of betting chips or coins. There can also be a shoe provided which is adapted to receive the cards therein and is used to deal the cards out to each player.

Provided on the felt surface (2) are a plurality of betting boxes (7). These boxes are spaced around the curved side (4) of the table (1) and are adapted to receive any bets placed by players thereon. In the centre of the table (1) on the felt surface (2) may be various logos or the like as desired.

The casino card game is provided with at feast one deck of cards which are delivered by the dealer from a shoe to each player. Prior to play, the decks are initially shuffled before being placed into the shoe. A divider may also be provided for use with the shoe, and may be inserted randomly in amongst the pack to prevent the dealer using all of the cards before re-shuffling. The divider thus acts as a means for restricting the likelihood of card counting by a player.

The dealer initiates the game by dealing each player two cards having their face up, and him/herself one card face up. The addition of each card held in the player's hand will produce a point total for that hand. Each player is then given the option to stand on their two-card total, or have a further third card dealt to them to establish a three-card total.

The point total is formed by the addition of each card held in a player's hand to obtain a final number, which is to be taken as the units part of the sum of the values of the cards if the value of the hand is over ten. Thus, if a player had a nine and a six the sum of which is fifteen, the point total for that hand would be taken as the units part of the sum which is five. The aim of the game is to obtain a point total which is nine, or as close as possible to nine.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cards in the pack are given the numeric value of one to nine for cards ace to nine, with all of the tens and Court cards being designated with a numeric value of zero.

If a player is initially dealt two cards which give a point total of eight or nine, it is said to be a ‘Natural’ hand, or otherwise known as a ‘Natural Eight’ or ‘Natural Nine’, as shown in FIG. 2. In the instance of being dealt a ‘Natural’ hand, a person must stand on this hand without the possibility of being dealt a further third card. If the point total is less than eight, then a player is provided with the option of being dealt a third card.

For example, if a player was dealt an initial two cards which gave a point total of five, say either a five together with a ten or Court card, a four and an Ace, or a three and a two, the player would have the option of being dealt a third card. If the third card was a four, then the player's point total would be a desirable nine. However, if the third card happened to be a five or above, then the actual end result of the hand becomes lower reducing the chance of the player winning that round. For example, if the third hand had been a seven, the final point total of the hand would have actually been two.

There is provided a situation called ‘Baccarat’ which occurs when the final point total is zero. If a player's hand results in Baccarat, it is considered to be an automatic loss and the player will lose regardless of whether or not the dealer also has a Baccarat.

Once all player's have either obtained a third card or stood on their two-card hand, the dealer will then draw a second card and, depending on the point total for that two-card hand, may receive a third card. Whether the dealer draws a third card is determined by a set strategy, and is not at the discretion of the dealer.

If the two-card point total of the House or dealer is between zero and five, then a third card is drawn. If the two-card point total of the House is between six and nine, then the dealer must stand on that total without drawing any further card.

Whether a player wins or loses, is then decided on the value of the player's hand relative to that of the dealer's hand.

The highest hands are the ‘Natural’ hands, that is, a natural eight or natural nine from a two-card point total. A natural nine will beat all other hands other than another natural nine, which will be considered a ‘stand-off’. A ‘stand-off’ arises when the final point total for a player is identical to that of the House.

The hand values thereafter run downwardly from nine to zero. A player's hand will lose if their final total is lower than that of the House. On this basis, if a player's hand value is shown to be higher that the dealer's hand value, the player will be payed at odds of 1:1 or even money. If the player's hand value is lower than the dealer's hand value, then the player loses his or her bet. If however, the player's hand value is equal to that of the dealer's hand value, taking into consideration that a Natural nine is higher than and nine from a three-card point value, then there is a ‘stand-off’ and the player maintains his or her bet.

The game of the invention is one which is simple to play and can be readily explained to players who have little or no knowledge of casino table card games. The game of the invention, because of Its simplicity, will enable any player to develop confidence very rapidly and the degree of intimidation will be minuscule.

The mathematics of game is configured such that the House will be left with a hold of at least 1.5% which would be quite satisfactory to a casino and/or gaming authorities, who would normally examine the return of a particular gaming before it is licenced, to ensure that the players are provided with what is deemed to be an acceptable return.

Whilst we have described herein a table which is similar to that of a Blackjack or 21 type table, it is to be noted that any table could be used. However, the table described is attractive from the point of view of the operator, as there is no need for an additional table.

Whilst we have described herein a specific embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that variations and modifications in this can be made without departing from the scope thereof. 

1-18. (canceled)
 19. A method for playing a card game for play with a gaming table, comprising the steps of: dealing a player by a dealer two playing cards faced up-ward from a standard deck of playing cards; drawing by said dealer for said dealer a first playing card faced upward from said standard deck of playing cards; providing said player with an option of having an additional playing card from said standard deck of playing cards dealt to said player and dealing said player said additional playing card, if so desired by said player; drawing a second playing card from said standard deck of playing cards by said dealer for said dealer; drawing a third playing card from said standard deck of playing cards by said dealer for said dealer under predetermined circumstances; and, determining a winning result by calculating a point total of said playing cards dealt to said player relative to a point total of said playing cards drawn by said dealer; and, paying a payout to said player if said player has said winning result.
 20. The method for playing a card game for play with a gaming table according to claim 19, wherein said step of determining a winning result includes calculating said point total for said player and said point total for said dealer wherein a numeric value of two to nine is accorded for all said playing cards having a numeric face value of two to nine, respectively, with aces being accorded a numeric value of one and court cards having a numeric value of zero.
 21. The method for playing a card game for play with a gaming table according to claim 20, wherein said point total for said player and said point total for said dealer are each calculated by adding said numeric value of each said playing card held by said player and said dealer, respectively.
 22. The method for playing a card game for play with a gaming table according to claim 21, wherein said point total for said player and said point total for said dealer are unit parts of sums calculated for each of said player and said dealer.
 23. The method for playing a card game for play with a gaming table according to claim 19, wherein said step of dealing said player two playing cards faced upward from a standard deck of playing cards is a “Natural Nine” if said two playing cards have a combined value of nine with said “Natural Nine” beating all other hands except another said “Natural Nine.”
 24. The method for playing a card game for play with a gaming table according to claim 19, wherein said predetermined circumstances whereby said dealer draws said third playing card include when said first playing card and said second playing card drawn by said dealer yield said point total for said dealer of between zero and five.
 25. The method for playing a card game for play with a gaming table according to claim 19, wherein said payout for said player is a payout of even money when said player has said point total that is greater than said point total of said dealer.
 26. The method for playing a card game for play with a gaming table according to claim 19, wherein said payout for said player will be zero, and said player will lose his wager, if said point total for said player is less than said point total for said dealer. 